"called ""Operation Santa"" to ensure that letters to Santa are adopted by charitable organizations, major corporations, local businesses and individuals in order to make children's holiday dreams come true from coast to coast. Those seeking a North Pole holiday postmark through the USPS, are told to send their letter from Santa or a holiday greeting card by 10 December to: North Pole Holiday Postmark, Postmaster, 4141 Postmark Dr, Anchorage, AK 99530-9998. In 2006, according to the UPU's 2007 study and survey of national postal operations, France's Postal Service received the most letters for Santa Claus or ""Père Noël"" with 1,220,000"
"mistletoe poisoning, he briefly turns into Sinterklaas, using his magic to make toys appear in people's shoes, before regaining control of his current incarnation. Sinterklaas also appeared in ""Sesamstraat"", the Dutch version of ""Sesame Street"". Other holiday figures based on Saint Nicholas are celebrated in some parts of Germany and Austria (""Sankt Nikolaus""); Hungary (""Mikulás""); Switzerland (""Samichlaus""); Italy (""San Nicola"" in Bari, South Tyrol, Alpine municipalities, and many others); parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia (""Sveti Nikola""); Slovenia (""Sveti Nikolaj"" or ""Sveti Miklavž""); Greece (""Hagios Nikolaos""); Romania (""Moș Nicolae""); Albania (""Shën Kolli"", ""Nikolli""), among others. See further: Saint"
"Mikulás Mikulás (or Szent Miklós) is the Hungarian version of Saint Nicholas, and a similar figure to Santa Claus. In many cities, Mikulás is getting more conflated with Santa Claus. Still, it is believed that Mikulás arrives to celebrate his day, December 6, and leaves before Christmas. This tradition is also well known in Romania (""Moș Nicolae""), Slovenia (""Miklavž)"", the Czech Republic, Slovakia (both Mikuláš), Croatia (Sv. Nikola) and Poland (""Mikołaj""). Although the role of gift-giver on Christmas Day itself is assigned to the Christ Child, on the eve of Saint Nicholas' feast day of 6 December Hungarian children traditionally"
"Santa's presumed progenitor. Santa Claus is known as ""de Kerstman"" in Dutch (""the Christmas man"") and ""Père Noël"" (""Father Christmas"") in French. But for children in the Netherlands Sinterklaas remains the predominant gift-giver in December; 36% of the Dutch only give presents on Sinterklaas evening or the day itself (December 6), whereas Christmas (December 25) is used by another 21% to give presents. Some 26% of the Dutch population gives presents on both days. In Belgium, Sinterklaas day presents are offered exclusively to children, whereas on Christmas Day, all ages may receive presents. Sinterklaas' assistants are called ""Zwarte Pieten"" (in"
"morning of 6 December, Saint Nicholas Day, in Belgium, Luxembourg and northern France (French Flanders, Lorraine and Artois). The tradition is also celebrated in territories of the former Dutch Empire, including Curaçao and Suriname. Sinterklaas is the primary source of the popular Christmas icon of Santa Claus. ""Sinterklaas"" is based on the historical figure of Saint Nicholas (270–343), a Greek bishop of Myra in present-day Turkey. He is depicted as an elderly, stately and serious man with white hair and a long, full beard. He wears a long red cape or chasuble over a traditional white bishop's alb and sometimes"
"encourage imagination, and it’s equivalent to bribing your kids for good behavior.” Notes Bibliography Santa Claus Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Kris Kringle, Father Christmas, or simply Santa, is a legendary figure originating in Western Christian culture who is said to bring gifts to the homes of well-behaved (""good"" or ""nice"") children on Christmas Eve (24 December) and the early morning hours of Christmas Day (25 December). The modern Santa Claus grew out of traditions surrounding the historical Saint Nicholas (a fourth-century Greek bishop and gift-giver of Myra), the British figure of Father Christmas and the Dutch figure"
"Santa Claus Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Kris Kringle, Father Christmas, or simply Santa, is a legendary figure originating in Western Christian culture who is said to bring gifts to the homes of well-behaved (""good"" or ""nice"") children on Christmas Eve (24 December) and the early morning hours of Christmas Day (25 December). The modern Santa Claus grew out of traditions surrounding the historical Saint Nicholas (a fourth-century Greek bishop and gift-giver of Myra), the British figure of Father Christmas and the Dutch figure of ""Sinterklaas"" (himself also based on Saint Nicholas). Some maintain Santa Claus also absorbed"
"the Estonian Santa Claus (""Jõuluvana"" or ""Old man of Christmas""), the Finnish Santa Claus (""Joulupukki"" or ""Yule Goat""), and other Santa Claus, Father Christmas, and Saint Nicholas figures. Some people also say, that Ded Moroz is Santa Claus's grandfather.<ref name=""Estonia/Russia: Santa Claus Shakes Hands With Father Frost – Jan 1, 2006""></ref> The détente efforts portrayed have included one-on-one meetings, group meetings and friendly competitions, such as the annual November Santa Claus championships of Celle, Germany. In November 2009, for the first time, the Russian Federation offered competition to NORAD Tracks Santa with GLONASS Tracks Ded Moroz, which purports to use"
"Sinterklaas Sinterklaas () or ""Sint-Nicolaas"" () is a legendary figure based on Saint Nicholas, patron saint of children. Other names for the figure include ""De Sint"" (""The Saint""), ""De Goede Sint"" (""The Good Saint""), and ""De Goedheiligman"" (""The Good Holy Man"") in Dutch; ""Saint Nicolas"" in French; ""Sinteklaas"" in West Frisian; ""Sinterklaos"" in Limburgs; ""Saint-Nikloi"" in West Flemish; and ""Kleeschen"" and ""Zinniklos"" in Luxembourgish. The feast of ""Sinterklaas"" celebrates the name day of Saint Nicholas on 6 December. The feast is celebrated annually with the giving of gifts on St. Nicholas' Eve (5 December) in the Netherlands and on the"
"role expanded in modern films and television. For instance: In European countries, Santa (U.S. and U.K.) is referred to as St. Nicholas, Père Noël, Papa Noël, SinterKlaus, and Christkindl, has Helpers that go by different names. In The Netherlands and Belgian, St. Nicholas is accompanied by Zwarte Piet. The inclusion of the latter into Christmas has become a very controversial issue for the racist, Blackface depiction of the character. He is also portrayed in colonial dress which harkens back to the era of Dutch and Belgian influence in Africa and therefore the slave trade. In Iceland they are the Yule"
"Belsnickel Belsnickel (also Belschnickel, Belznickle, Belznickel, Pelznikel, Pelznickel, from ""pelzen"" (or ""belzen"", German for to wallop or to drub) and ""Nickel"" being a hypocorism of the given name ""Nikolaus"") is a crotchety, fur-clad Christmas gift-bringer figure in the folklore of the Palatinate region of southwestern Germany along the Rhine, the Saarland, and the Odenwald area of Baden-Württemberg. The figure is also preserved in Pennsylvania Dutch communities. Belsnickel is related to other companions of Saint Nicholas in the folklore of German-speaking Europe. He may have been based on another older German myth, Knecht Ruprecht, a servant of Saint Nicholas, and a"
"in the Netherlands is Sint Nicolaas or ""Sinterklaas"". It is celebrated on the evening before Sinterklaas' birthday on December 5, especially in families with little children. Sinterklaas has a companion known as Zwarte Piet, which in recent years has come under scrutiny in light of accusations of racist caricatures. In the United States the original figure of Dutch ""Sinterklaas"" has merged with ""Father Christmas"" into Santa Claus. In the Netherlands, gift-bringing at Christmas has in recent decades gained some popularity too, although Sinterklaas is much more popular.. A widespread tradition is that of serving beschuit met muisjes when people come"
"through man's renewed participation in the divine life."" A number of figures are associated with Christmas and the seasonal giving of gifts. Among these are Father Christmas, also known as Santa Claus (derived from the Dutch for Saint Nicholas), Père Noël, and the Weihnachtsmann; Saint Nicholas or Sinterklaas; the Christkind; Kris Kringle; Joulupukki; tomte/nisse; Babbo Natale; Saint Basil; and Ded Moroz. The Scandinavian tomte (also called nisse) is sometimes depicted as a gnome instead of Santa Claus. The best known of these figures today is red-dressed Santa Claus, of diverse origins. The name Santa Claus can be traced back to"
"Lads; between December 12 and 24, a different Lad visits homes each day to leave presents and play tricks on children. In Belgium and the Netherlands, the companion is called Zwarte Piet (Black Peter), in Germany they are the Knecht Ruprecht and in Luxembourg they are known as Hoesecker. In Nordic countries Christmas Elves are considered nisser and not elves and will usually wear only red instead of the green and red outfits they are known for in English speaking countries. Christmas elf In American, Canadian, Irish, and British cultures, a Christmas elf is a diminutive elf that lives with"
"from Saint Nicholas. ""Santa Claus"" is itself derived in part from the Dutch ""Sinterklaas"", the saint's name in that language. However the gift giving associated with these descendant figures is associated with Christmas Day rather than Saint Nicholas Day itself. Among Albanians, Saint Nicholas is known as Shen'Kollë and is venerated by most Catholic families, even those from villages that are devoted to other saints. The Feast of Saint Nicholas is celebrated on the evening before 6 December, known as Shen'Kolli i Dimnit (Saint Nicholas of Winter), as well as on the commemoration of the interring of his bones in"
"of the Spanish Kingdom of Naples. Others suggest that mandarin oranges, traditionally gifts associated with St. Nicholas, led to the misconception that he must have been from Spain. This theory is backed by a Dutch poem documented in 1810 in New York and provided with an English translation: <poem>Sinterklaas, goedheiligman! Trek uwe beste tabberd an, Reis daar mee naar Amsterdam, Van Amsterdam naar Spanje, Daar Appelen van Oranje, Daar Appelen van granaten, Die rollen door de straten. </poem> <poem>Saint Nicholas, good holy man! Put on the Tabard, best you can, Go, therewith, to Amsterdam, From Amsterdam to Spain, Where apples"
"the Dutch ""Sinterklaas"", which means simply Saint Nicholas. Nicholas was a 4th-century Greek bishop of Myra, a city in the Roman province of Lycia, whose ruins are from modern Demre in southwest Turkey. Among other saintly attributes, he was noted for the care of children, generosity, and the giving of gifts. His feast day, December 6, came to be celebrated in many countries with the giving of gifts. Saint Nicholas traditionally appeared in bishop's attire, accompanied by helpers, inquiring about the behaviour of children during the past year before deciding whether they deserved a gift or not. By the 13th"
"Greek children get their presents from Saint Basil on New Year's Eve, the eve of that saint's liturgical feast. The German St. Nikolaus is not identical with the Weihnachtsmann (who is the German version of Santa Claus / Father Christmas). St. Nikolaus wears a bishop's dress and still brings small gifts (usually candies, nuts, and fruits) on December 6 and is accompanied by Knecht Ruprecht. Although many parents around the world routinely teach their children about Santa Claus and other gift bringers, some have come to reject this practice, considering it deceptive. Multiple gift-giver figures exist in Poland, varying between"
"the allegedly miraculous wax statue of Christkind in the town church. Christkind The Christkind (German ""Christ-child"", pronounced ) is the traditional Christmas gift-bringer in Austria, Switzerland, Germany (in the south and west), the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Croatia, Italy (however only the South Tirol area), Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Slovakia, Hungary, parts of northeastern France, Upper Silesia in Poland, parts of Hispanic America, in certain areas of southern Brazil, Quebec in Canada, and in the Acadiana region of Louisiana. In Italian, it is called ""Gesù Bambino"", in Portuguese ""Menino Jesus"" (""Jesus Boy""), in Hungarian ""Jézuska"" (""Little Jesus""), in Slovak ""Ježiško"""
"Nicholas Day. Sinterklaas Sinterklaas () or ""Sint-Nicolaas"" () is a legendary figure based on Saint Nicholas, patron saint of children. Other names for the figure include ""De Sint"" (""The Saint""), ""De Goede Sint"" (""The Good Saint""), and ""De Goedheiligman"" (""The Good Holy Man"") in Dutch; ""Saint Nicolas"" in French; ""Sinteklaas"" in West Frisian; ""Sinterklaos"" in Limburgs; ""Saint-Nikloi"" in West Flemish; and ""Kleeschen"" and ""Zinniklos"" in Luxembourgish. The feast of ""Sinterklaas"" celebrates the name day of Saint Nicholas on 6 December. The feast is celebrated annually with the giving of gifts on St. Nicholas' Eve (5 December) in the Netherlands and"
"December to coincide with Christmas Day. The Victorian revival of Christmas included Father Christmas as the emblem of 'good cheer'. His physical appearance was variable, with one famous image being John Leech's illustration of the ""Ghost of Christmas Present"" in Charles Dickens's festive classic ""A Christmas Carol"" (1843), as a great genial man in a green coat lined with fur who takes Scrooge through the bustling streets of London on the current Christmas morning, sprinkling the essence of Christmas onto the happy populace. In the Netherlands and Belgium the character of Santa Claus has to compete with that of Sinterklaas,"
"in Tomteboda in Stockholm receives children's letters for Santa. In Finland, Korvatunturi has long been known as Santa's home, and two theme parks, Santa Claus Village and Santa Park are located near Rovaniemi. In Belarus there is a home of Ded Moroz in Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park. Santa Claus appears in the weeks before Christmas in department stores or shopping malls, or at parties. The practice of this has been credited to James Edgar, as he started doing this in 1890 in his Brockton, Massachusetts department store. He is played by an actor, usually helped by other actors (often mall"
"New York was alive and well from the early settlement of the Hudson Valley on. Current tradition in several Latin American countries (such as Venezuela and Colombia) holds that while Santa makes the toys, he then gives them to the Baby Jesus, who is the one who actually delivers them to the children's homes, a reconciliation between traditional religious beliefs and the iconography of Santa Claus imported from the United States. In South Tyrol (Italy), Austria, Czech Republic, Southern Germany, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Slovakia, and Switzerland, the Christkind (Ježíšek in Czech, Jézuska in Hungarian and Ježiško in Slovak) brings the presents."
"by the ""čert"" (Devil) and ""anděl"" (Angel). In France, Saint Nicholas' companion is called ""Rubbels"" in German-speaking Lorraine and ""Hanstrapp"" (in Alsace, East of France) and the ""Père Fouettard"" (Wallonia, Northern and Eastern France). Often the subject of winter poems and tales, the Companions travel with Saint Nicholas carrying with them a rod (sometimes a stick and in modern times often a broom) and a sack. They are sometimes dressed in black rags, bearing a black face and unruly black hair. In many contemporary portrayals the companions look like dark, sinister, or rustic versions of Nicholas himself, with a similar"
"some people will shift to Christmas Eve or Christmas Day for the present giving. Older children in Dutch families where the children are too old to believe in Sinterklaas anymore, also often celebrate Christmas with presents instead of ""pakjesavond"". Instead of such gifts being brought by Sinterklaas, family members ordinarily draw names for an event comparable to Secret Santa. Because of the popularity of his ""older cousin"" Sinterklaas, Santa Claus is however not commonly seen in the Netherlands and Belgium. Hélène Adeline Guerber and others have drawn parallels between ""Sinterklaas"" and his helpers and the Wild Hunt of Wodan or"
"Père Noël Père Noël (), ""Father Christmas"", sometimes called Papa Noël (""Daddy Christmas""), is a legendary gift-bringer at Christmas in France and other French-speaking areas, identified with the Father Christmas and/or Santa Claus of English-speaking territories. Though they were traditionally different, all of them are now the same character, with different names, and the shared characteristics of a red outfit, workshop at the North Pole, and team of reindeer. According to tradition, on Christmas Eve children leave their shoes by the fireplace filled with carrots and treats for Père Noël's donkey, Gui (French for ""Mistletoe"") before they go to bed."
"to match that of Santa. The French Père Noël evolved along similar lines, eventually adopting the Santa image. In Italy, Babbo Natale acts as Santa Claus, while La Befana is the bringer of gifts and arrives on the eve of the Epiphany. It is said that La Befana set out to bring the baby Jesus gifts, but got lost along the way. Now, she brings gifts to all children. In some cultures Santa Claus is accompanied by Knecht Ruprecht, or Black Peter. In other versions, elves make the toys. His wife is referred to as Mrs. Claus. There has been"
"Christkind The Christkind (German ""Christ-child"", pronounced ) is the traditional Christmas gift-bringer in Austria, Switzerland, Germany (in the south and west), the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Croatia, Italy (however only the South Tirol area), Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Slovakia, Hungary, parts of northeastern France, Upper Silesia in Poland, parts of Hispanic America, in certain areas of southern Brazil, Quebec in Canada, and in the Acadiana region of Louisiana. In Italian, it is called ""Gesù Bambino"", in Portuguese ""Menino Jesus"" (""Jesus Boy""), in Hungarian ""Jézuska"" (""Little Jesus""), in Slovak ""Ježiško"" (""Little Jesus""), in Czech ""Ježíšek"" (""Little Jesus""), in Latin America ""Niño"
"Le Petit Bonhomme Janvier 'Tit Bonhomme Janvier (""Good Little January Man""), usually spelled Te Bonhomme Janvier in English, is a character in the folklore of the Cajun people of Louisiana, said to be the poor, younger brother of Santa Claus. Cajun children do not get their stockings filled on Christmas Eve, but are instead visited by Te Bonhomme on New Year’s Eve, who fills their stockings with fruits, candy, and other special gifts if the children have been well behaved during the year, especially during the week between Christmas and New Year's. If the children have been naughty, Te Bonhomme"
"Day Hungarian children traditionally place a boot on their windowsill waiting for Mikulás to come by and fill it with treats. There is no Mrs. Mikulás in Hungary. In Hungary, Mikulás often comes with an assistant: a ""Krampusz"", a Devil, who punishes bad children. In the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Slovakia, Miklavž has another assistant, a good Angel, who gives out presents to good children. While in the Netherlands and Belgium, he is often joined by a black-faced man called Zwarte Piet. To expatriate Hungarians and those non-natives of Hungarian lineage, the celebration is often referred to as ""Hungarian Christmas""."
"Krampus In Central European folklore, Krampus is a horned, anthropomorphic figure described as ""half-goat, half-demon"", who, during the Christmas season, punishes children who have misbehaved, in contrast with Saint Nicholas, who rewards the well-behaved with gifts. Krampus is one of the companions of Saint Nicholas in several regions including Austria, Bavaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Northern Italy including South Tyrol and the Province of Trento, Slovakia, and Slovenia. The origin of the figure is unclear; some folklorists and anthropologists have postulated it as having pre-Christian origins. In traditional parades and in such events as the ""Krampuslauf"" (English: ""Krampus run""), young"
"as well as people with just a Christian background, go to Roman Catholic midnight mass celebration. Other common attributes of Christmas in Central Europe include Christmas trees, mistletoe, Christmas garlands, and Bethlehem cribs. In many areas of Central Europe, St. Nicholas (Hungarian: Mikulás, Czech: Mikuláš, Polish: Mikołaj, Slovak: Mikuláš, Slovene: Miklavž), or Santa Claus, does not come for Christmas. He visits families earlier, on the dawn of St. Nicholas Day on December 6, and for the well-behaved children he has presents and candy-bags to put into their well polished shoes that were set in the windows the previous evening. Although"
"guests (alluding to Mary and Joseph looking for shelter in Bethlehem). During the Reformation in 16th- and 17th-century Europe, many Protestants changed the gift bringer to the Christ Child or ""Christkindl"", and the date of giving gifts changed from 6 December to Christmas Eve. It is the night when Santa Claus makes his rounds delivering gifts to good children. Many trace the custom of giving gifts to the Magi who brought gifts for the Christ child in the manger. In the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Croatia and Hungary, where Saint Nicholas (sv. Mikuláš/szent Mikulás) gives his sweet gifts on 6 December,"